Fun battle going on
-Drew Smith back to NY for an MRI on his elbow (not good)
-Oswalt has touched 94-95, I like him as an "extra" guy but I remain concerned with the SP depth. Brodie has done a strong job adding to the positional depth (OF not great) but the SP is insanely thin.
-Don't like the idea being pushed of Rosario 8th. CF should hit 8th at least until Lowrie returns.
-This lineup should be very solid (especially once Lowrie returns) really think they need to add additional SP depth. They will need roughly 10 to get through the season and those arms barring a rapid ascent from guys like Kay or Peterson simply don't exist.
-Please sign Josh Fields. Thanks.
- Alonso posted a .962 OPS vs. righties last year, he likely won't do that (or close) as a big leaguer but he hits righties, you're going to sit him vs. them?
-First 11 games includes 6 with the Nats, 3 with the Marlins 2 with the Twins. The Nats have 1 LH starter, the Marlins have 1 (Chen), Twins none. How many starts is Alonso getting over those first 11 to throw away a year of service time? 3? 4? Would be truly idiotic.
He won't be happy with it, no rookie is, but until MLB changes that rule, it's a no-brainer.
My feelings exactly. Dom has done well enough this preseason to earn that audition. After the last few seasons perhaps it will help his confidence to know that performance is rewarded. As for pitching depth, Lockett has looked better than I expected though he needs to keep the ball in the ballpark. Also glad to see Avilan have a strong Spring because it would be nice to have a lefty in the pen who can pitch to more than one batter.
It would make a lot of sense from both sides, especially for the Mets since Dowdy has been awful.
A 2-week audition for Dom ?? They play the Nats 6 times in the first 2 weeks.....what kind of stats would Dom put up against that pitching staff ?? Dom Smith might benefit from a longer stretch of solid playing time. He might actually improve his trade value.
I believe just about every team in the League, including the Yankees would take advantage of that Service Time clause.
I can see them doing something similar to last year with either Rosario or Mcneil in the 9 hole and having the P bat 8th
This makes absolutely no sense. You are starting Alonso's clock, losing a year of control to have him play at best 5-6 games? This option makes the least sense of all of them.
1) Dom starting
2) Biting the bullet, accepting losing a year on Alonso and he's your guy
Those are the only 2 options that make sense
Both is mind blowingly bad especially when they can't be in the lineup at the same time.
I'm really encouraged to see the positive signs from Mcneil, Rosario, and Conforto this spring. Cano too. There is just a different vibe in terms of how the entire team is approaching at bats in a more comfortable way. Maybe that works maybe it doesn't, but we know the old way of doing things led to awful situational hitting year after year after year.
I'm also less enthused about the depth on the pitching side of things. For the life of me I have no idea whey they spent somewhere between $5-10m (depending on which options hit) on TDA/Mesoraco/Hechavarria instead of putting that money on the pitching staff. Guillorme (9/21 this spring with 3 XBH) and 1 of the catchers could suffice and I guess there's still time if they choose.
2) Rosario/SS
3) Conforto/RF
4) Ramos/C
5) Cano/2B
6) Davis/3B
7) Smith/1B
8) McNeil/LF
That gives you L/R/L/R/L/R/L/L otherwise you can have Cano and Ramos swap and Davis and Smith swap so your back to back lefties will be 3/4 rather than 7/8
Ugh.
Honestly how can the front office say they are going for it/the team to beat when that's the case?
Gross.
2) Rosario/SS
3) Conforto/RF
4) Ramos/C
5) Cano/2B
6) Davis/3B
7) Smith/1B
8) McNeil/LF
That gives you L/R/L/R/L/R/L/L otherwise you can have Cano and Ramos swap and Davis and Smith swap so your back to back lefties will be 3/4 rather than 7/8
I know it's not ideal, but I think they need to just stack the lefties.
Cano should hit 3rd, Conforto should hit 4th, and Ramos 5th.
Rosario vs. Mcneil for 2nd can go either way. I'd probably ride the hot hand, especially in the rare games when we face a L.
So then you don't carry Dom Smith. He's exclusively a 1b and he needs reps. What does Dom Smith add to the Mets roster while on the bench? Can't carry Alonso, JD Davis and Dom Smith at the same time.
@SportsInfo_SIS
Royals C Martín Maldonado is very good at pitch-framing and preventing SB
Ranks T-5th in our "Strike Zone Runs Saved" stat and T-3rd in our SB Runs Saved stat over last 2 seasons
He's 4th among C in Defensive Runs Saved in that span
2m
Martín Maldonado threw out 15 of 33 attempting to steal on him last season (45%).
Both the results and limited number of attempts make him valuable from a statistical perspective.
I don't know whose pitch framing stats are better and baseball prospectus' say Maldonado had a down year last year, but even his arm alone would have been helpful to slow down the running game in those few series a year where teams try to run wild on Thor.
You send Alonso down, by the time he comes back up he may be in a slump in AAA or he won’t be used to that MLB life again. A lot of it is confidence and comfort. Thiucal mets will make writ decision.
Alonso at 1st
Smith in the corner OF w McNeil & backup PH?
Ugh.
Honestly how can the front office say they are going for it/the team to beat when that's the case?
Gross.
yo do you ever do anything on Mets threads other then complain. Go find another team if your gonna bitch all the time
You send Alonso down, by the time he comes back up he may be in a slump in AAA or he won’t be used to that MLB life again. A lot of it is confidence and comfort. Thiucal mets will make writ decision.
Alonso at 1st
Smith in the corner OF w McNeil & backup PH?
You're talking about legit 5 or so games for each player for that single year of control not to mention what confidence are they they gaining riding the pine 50% of the time?
You send Alonso down, by the time he comes back up he may be in a slump in AAA or he won’t be used to that MLB life again. A lot of it is confidence and comfort. Thiucal mets will make writ decision.
Alonso at 1st
Smith in the corner OF w McNeil & backup PH?
Smith also is no longer going to play OF (nor should he) and has not taken any OF reps.
DMM - you say this as if it is a forgone conclusion Hech has already made the opening day roster. I think they will try to send him to Syracuse and keep him there for as long as possible, only calling him up if Rosario goes down for an extended period.
Think of him like a $3M insurance option in case we need a SS. I believe he only gets paid for making the roster and for games played.
Alonso (1b)
Cano (2b)
Ramos (c)
Conforto (RF)
McNeil (SS)
Rosario (SS)
Dom (LF)
Dan's right about the pitching and we've been harping on it for a while. It looks like the front office isn't going to do anything there given the late date. Nice to see Oswalt flashing a little bit this spring but it's pretty thin when he's the #6 guy.
Quote:
depth 100% is an issue/concern. No way around it. I choose to be positive about this roster but as Eric noted they made some very curious budgetary decisions. Hech in particular was an odd addition at 3 million. He has PROVEN he can't hit MLB pitching. He's glove only, Guillorme could have provided that for 1/6th of the price.
DMM - you say this as if it is a forgone conclusion Hech has already made the opening day roster. I think they will try to send him to Syracuse and keep him there for as long as possible, only calling him up if Rosario goes down for an extended period.
Think of him like a $3M insurance option in case we need a SS. I believe he only gets paid for making the roster and for games played.
Mickey has talked him up as if he's making the roster. I can only take the manager at his word. Hech aside, TDA same thing, 3+ million if he makes the roster. Money better spent on one of the flier SP's.
Quote:
In comment 14323758 DanMetroMan said:
Quote:
depth 100% is an issue/concern. No way around it. I choose to be positive about this roster but as Eric noted they made some very curious budgetary decisions. Hech in particular was an odd addition at 3 million. He has PROVEN he can't hit MLB pitching. He's glove only, Guillorme could have provided that for 1/6th of the price.
DMM - you say this as if it is a forgone conclusion Hech has already made the opening day roster. I think they will try to send him to Syracuse and keep him there for as long as possible, only calling him up if Rosario goes down for an extended period.
Think of him like a $3M insurance option in case we need a SS. I believe he only gets paid for making the roster and for games played.
Mickey has talked him up as if he's making the roster. I can only take the manager at his word. Hech aside, TDA same thing, 3+ million if he makes the roster. Money better spent on one of the flier SP's.
Would you take Hech and TDA or Guillorme/Mesoraco and Derek Holland (1 yr $7M deal)? I'd take the latter and it's not even close. Not a huge difference in money.
Really bad optics.
Mariners rookie right-hander Gerson Bautista left today’s game after suffering an injury to his upper arm and/or pectoral muscle. (MLB.com’s Greg Johns was among those to report the details.) There’s no word yet on the severity of the injury, though Bautista left the mound in visible discomfort. Bautista was part of the trade package acquired from the Mets as part of the Robinson Cano/Edwin Diaz trade, and the 23-year-old has been making a good case to win a bullpen job during an impressive spring.
And I am petrified that the Mets will do something silly like break camp with Alonso since BVW has seemingly made it a mission to be more player centric. I told myself I won’t get beyond annoyed but I have zero confidence in my ability to do so.
Both get AB's and you look at it again in May.
And I am petrified that the Mets will do something silly like break camp with Alonso since BVW has seemingly made it a mission to be more player centric. I told myself I won’t get beyond annoyed but I have zero confidence in my ability to do so.
Mesoraco signed a minor league deal. He can opt out but not sure he would really want to. It's not like he's having a huge spring and teams would be beating down the door for him.
Go with Guillorme
Go with Guillorme
Heck yeah. He looks stronger to me this year too. Put on some muscle and is hitting with more authority.
True but they just removed TJ Rivera so they can easily add Alonso there. Who else? Guillorme is on the 40, Hech isnt. Same for TDA over Mesoraco.
BUT
Under literally no scenario does it make sense.
Unless you think he’s a monster and have zero alternatives. Well they have several alternatives, and if he IS a monster... that would literally be the number one reason you would WANT to control him an extra year...
BUT
Under literally no scenario does it make sense.
Unless you think he’s a monster and have zero alternatives. Well they have several alternatives, and if he IS a monster... that would literally be the number one reason you would WANT to control him an extra year...
Also starting the year with your best team isn't as important as finishing the year with your best team. Even if Alonso ends up the better 1B, Dom Smith could be an important chip to trade at some point to help accomplish the latter. Developing both of them is the optimal result for the team.
BUT
Under literally no scenario does it make sense.
Unless you think he’s a monster and have zero alternatives. Well they have several alternatives, and if he IS a monster... that would literally be the number one reason you would WANT to control him an extra year...
True.